South Walton hangs on to survive Wewahitchka rally

Two football teams looking for something to build upon found what they wanted Friday night.

South Walton wasn't entirely error free in its 24-21 victory over host Wewahitchka, but the Seahawks kept their composure in the second half as the Gators wilted to secure the preseason win.

South Walton carried a 10-7 lead into halftime, and the Seahawks seized an insurmountable lead with two touchdowns in the third quarter. They needed all of those points to withstand the Gators' spirited rally, which included two touchdowns in the final 3½ minutes, but fell short on a failed onside kick.

“We expect to win a district championship,” Seahawks quarterback Dylan Asbury said. “We're good enough, and this is a team that wants it. We have nothing to lose.”

Ryan Rookis’ first carry was nullified by a penalty for an illegal block, but he made up for it with a 74-yard romp for a touchdown two snaps later that gave the Seahawks a 17-7 advantage. Rookis wiggled free from three defenders behind the line of scrimmage and found nothing but open space as he raced downfield for the score.

Wewahitchka was forced to punt on its next possession, and the kick was blocked to hand the Seahawks the ball at the Gator 34. Asbury ran 20 yards on one play and passed 13 yards to Jay Gatto on another to set up Gatto's 3-yard touchdown run. That extended South Walton's lead to 24-7 and effectively decided the outcome.

“We really wore them down,” Asbury said.

Gator quarterback Beau McCorvey, 9 for 23 passing for 154 yards and three touchdowns, threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jamaree Hunter with 3½ minutes remaining to pull the Gators within 24-14.

Dvonte Baham reeled in another McCorvey pass and muscled his way over the goal line on a 40-yard scoring play to trim Wewa's deficit to 24-21. The Gators’ onside kick was unsuccessful.

“I'm crying right now because we fought a good game,” Baham said.

South Walton broke a scoreless tie early in the second quarter when Keith Stewart plunged in from 3 yards for a 7-0 lead. The Seahawks benefited from good field position, starting at the Wewa 40. Gatto’s 18-yard run on second-and-16 put South Walton on the 10, and Stewart scored two plays later.

After both teams traded three-and-outs, Wewa marched 80 yards in 11 plays to knot the score 7-7. McCorvey completed just two passes in the first half, but both of them came on the scoring drive, including a 22-yard strike to Justin Flowers for the touchdown with 1:05 left in the half.

Andrew Priest returned the ensuing kickoff to the Gators’ 46, and Jonathan O'Hara booted a 25-yard field 3 seconds before halftime to nudge the Seahawks ahead 10-7 at halftime.

Baham rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries. He sparked Wewa’s rushing attack in the first half with seven carries for 53 yards. Gatto and Zack Parker combined for 53 yards on 13 carries for South Walton in the opening two quarters.

South Walton     0 10 14 0 — 24

Wewahitchka     0 7 0 14 — 21

SW: Stewart 3 run (O'Hara kick)

Wewa: Flowers 22 pass from McCorvey (Flowers kick)

SW: FG O'Hara 25

SW: Rookis 74 run (O'Hara kick)

SW: Gatto 3 run (O'Hara kick)

Wewa: Hunter 21 pass from McCorvey (Flowers kick)

Wewa: Baham 40 pass from McCorvey (Flowers kick)

RUSHING — South Walton: Rookis 2-70, Gatto 14-35, Parker 4-23, Stewart 4-16, Asbury 3-14, Whalen 1-4, Caswell 1-(minus-3). Wewahitchka: Baham 15-101, McCorvey 12-58, Addison 3-21, Price 6-16, Flowers 1-11, Nobles 1-3, Dauphin 1-3.

PASSING — South Walton: Asbury 4-7-0 38, Caswell 0-1-0 0. Wewahitchka: McCorvey 9-23-0 154.

RECEIVING — South Walton: Priest 1-15, Parker 1-10, Gatto 2-13, Wewahitchka: Hunter 4-57, Flowers 2-40, Baham 3-57.